What must an expert report contain?
Rule 13-6 requires a signed report with the expert certification required by the Rules, along with the expert's identity, qualifications, instructions, the opinion sought, the opinion itself and reasons. The reasons include the factual assumptions, relevant research and documents relied upon.
Service and responding evidence
The ordinary report deadline is 84 days before the scheduled trial. A party serving a responding expert report generally has until 42 days before trial. Court orders can change those dates, and other procedures—such as petitions or summary trial—can have their own interaction with expert evidence.
Objections
The current Rule requires a party who intends to object to the admissibility of expert opinion evidence to serve notice on the earlier of the Trial Management Conference date and 21 days before trial. Waiting until trial to identify a known admissibility objection can create serious procedural problems.
Expert files and cross-examination
The Rules address production of specified material underlying the opinion, access to the expert's file, notice of the trial date and circumstances in which the expert may have to attend for cross-examination.
Section 211 is different
A court-ordered parenting assessment under section 211 of the Family Law Act is governed by a separate statutory process and Rule 13-1. It should not be treated as simply another party-retained Rule 13-6 expert report.
Cost planning
Before retaining an expert, define the actual question the expert is needed to answer. Overly broad instructions increase report cost and lawyer review time. Parties should also budget for possible responding evidence, preparation for cross-examination and the expert's attendance fees—not just the initial report.